William Penn Life, 2000 (35. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2000-02-01 / 2. szám
Hungary strengthens crime fighting with United States BUDAPEST — Hungary and the United States strengthened their partnership in the fight against organized crime with the signing Jan. 13 of a broad date-sharing agreement. The agreement gives highest priority to tracking down and prosecuting organized crime figures headquartered in Hungary. The agreement, signed by Hungarian Interior Minister Sándor Pintér and American Ambassador Peter Tufo, will make it easier for law enforcement agencies of both countries to share information regarding organized crime and crime figures. It supplements the three-year-old Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty and the U.S. government's "Six-Point Plan" of technical and material assistance to Hungarian law enforcement agencies. The U.S. has "trained more than 200 Hungarian law enforcement officers who will be investigating and prosecuting major organized crime cases," Mr. Tufo said. In the past year, the U.S. has donated bullet-proof vests and surveillance equipment to Hungarian police, and formed a joint strike force with Hungary to investigate such cases as the bombing at Budapest's Aranykéz shopping district. An FBI agent has also been permanently assigned to the American embassy in Budapest. U.S. asks Hungarians to help find MIAs BUDAPEST - The United States government is making a direct appeal to the people of Hungary for help in determining the fate of U.S. military personnel unaccounted for from World War II and the Cold War era. "An Appeal to the Hungarian People" appeared Jan. 14 on the web site of the U.S. embassy in Hungary. Written in both English and Hungarian, the five-paragraph statement makes a special appeal for information on American military personnel held prisoner in the gulag system of the former Soviet Union. "It is believed that numerous survivors from World War II, the Korean War and the war in Southeast Asia may have been forcibly taken to and detained in the former Soviet Union," the appeal states. "Any records, memorabilia or personal accounts relating to missing Americans would be deeply appreciated by American families who, for many years, have been unable to learn the fate of their missing fathers, husbands, sons and brothers." Those with any such information are asked to contact Tibor Mezei at the American embassy, Szabadság tér 12, 1054 Budapest. Exhibit gets extended run at N.J. museum NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ - Due to an overwhelming response, the museum of the American Hungarian Foundation is extending the run of the exhibit, "The Hungarian Spark in America." The exhibit will now remain on display at the Somerset Street facility until Feb. 27. The exhibit demonstrates the extraordinary contributions in the arts, sciences, humanities, commerce, and religious and civic life that Hungarians and their descendants have made to American society since 1776. For more information, call the Foundation at (732) 846-5777. Educators plan annual gathering at U. of Illinois Teachers interested in Hungary and Hungarian studies are invited to attend the annual summer research laboratory conducted by the Russian and Eastern European Center at the University of Illinois. Primary and secondary level teachers as well as college-level instructors are welcome to join the Hungarian group. The weeklong event offers educators the opportunity to conduct research at the largest public university collection of Russian and Eastern European materials in the U.S. It also gives them the chance to meet other educators conducting similar research. The group will gather for a week in late June. Activities will include daily group discussions of each participant's research project along with time to pursue individual studies. Each evening the group will gather for dinner. Registration fee is $25. Participants can expect to pay about $25 a night for a room with a refrigerator and stove. For more information contact the Russian and Eastern European Center, University of Illinois, 104 International Studies Building, 910 South 5th St., Champaign, IL 61820. Magyar Links interested in what’s happening in the Hungarian government or learning more about Hungary’s governing institutions and leaders? Then check out the web sites of the Hungarian National Assembly at www.mkogy.hu and the Hungarian Prime Minister’s office at www.meh.hu. 1 1 Williia Pm Life, February 2000
